Padres deal Blanks to A's for OF Goebbert
Slugging Minor Leaguer sent to Triple-A; San Diego to also get PTBN or cash
CINCINNATI -- The Padres on Thursday traded infielder/outfielder Kyle Blanks to the Oakland A's in exchange for Minor League outfielder Jake Goebbert and a player to be named and/or cash considerations.
The 27-year-old Blanks, who made his Major League debut with San Diego in 2009, hit .243 in 280 at-bats last season with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. He battled injuries throughout his time with the Padres, limiting his playing time, and he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in '10 and season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in April '12. Blanks also had a strained arch in his right foot last year, as well as tendinitis in his left Achilles.
Blanks, a right-handed hitter, appeared in five games with the Padres this season, hitting .200 (2-for-10) before being optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday when Carlos Quentin was activated from the disabled list.
"We've seen Kyle really make an impression and really do some good things for us," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The consistency at times was not what we had hoped for, and I think Kyle would be the first to say that. But he played hard, the coaches and I over the years have had great things to say about Kyle's work ethic. He came to the park every day to play.
"He was banged up a couple different times and spent time on the disabled list. That was unfortunate in the early part of his career. I think that probably had a little impact on his progress, but I can't say enough good things about him as a Padre."
The 26-year-old Goebbert, a left-handed hitter, batted .257 (28-for-109) at Triple-A Sacramento this season, with seven doubles, a triple, six home runs and 25 RBIs in 31 games. He was a 13th-round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Northwestern University.
In six Minor League seasons with the Astros (2009-12) and A's ('13-14), Goebbert hit .278 with 141 doubles, 20 triples, 59 home runs, 343 RBIs, 338 runs scored and 33 stolen bases in 613 games. He will be assigned to Triple-A El Paso.